Hello!

Canie, this is on and off topic, so give me a little latitude.

I'm on the hunt to find a new place to live some distance from Petaluma. Shall it be Parkfield, the Earthquake Capitol of the World, Virginia City, the Silver City of the old west, Whidbey Island, WA, next to the Emerald City or someplace else in the realm of best places for research?

The possiblities are endless, as I could now chose to live anywhere in the world, so if anyone wants to suggest a earthquake research area, feel free to tell me what you might know.

I spoke to the school teacher in Parkfield tonight, the one who does the geodimeter laser readings for Middle Mountain and he's gathering some residential data for me. Of those I met this last year, he's on the top of my most liked list.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but for quite sometime I have been gathering survivor stories from people who survived the 1964 Good Friday Alaskan Earthquake. Due to the size of this monumental earthquake and the low loss of life, I thought if I could find out from them on a first hand basis what it was like to have this experience I would capture a moment in time from many in all age groups that would in time be a good story to write. Tonight, once again I was treated to an offer to gather yet two more. The stories I've collected are the most heart warming, frightening and amazing of anything I've ever read. Grown men cry when they write, women weep and those that were children remember things in a whole different way. They knew not fear, saw it in their parents faces and took a look at something almost apart from themselves. As I tend to look at the human element of the earthquake experience, moreso than the scientific parts, what I see, learn and experience from those who willingly share their experiences, is a rare moment. I'm building a time capsule of memories and hopefully one day, can share them with others and let them share a moment in time.

The story of the sinking of the Titanic is much the same. All of these years later, they are as fascinating now as right after. A PBS special from the survivors point of view about Alaska, could prove to be a very interesting event.

Just another idea from the factory of many.

Pat